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No Pepper · 04-24-2008, 01:38 PM

Just a few comments about how this dynasty shapes up:

I was inspired by a number of dynasties on this board, particularly those that followed the careers of a certain player. I've always been interested in old-time baseball, especially the Deadball Era and the events following WWI and the arrival of The Babe. Since there's many different storylines to pursue during this time period, I thought to concentrate on a group of players that I knew little about: pitchers that threw the spitball. This dynasty was also inspired by the wonderful research of Steve Steinberg and the book Spitballers: The Last Legal Hurlers of the Wet One. Here and there I'll either be quoting or paraphrasing from those references so I'd like to give them their due credit here. I'm not a particular creative writer so they'll help guide the 'story' along at points.

So, for starters, this dynasty will follow the careers of those that were known spitballers. They range from Hall-of-Famers to No-Namers, and more or less every team in the majors had them. This is sort of a spoiler, but what is particularly interesting is that in 1920, the spitball was banned but eventually every team could "grandfather" up to two established pitchers and allow them to throw the spitter until either age or performance forces them to retire. That's where the fictional aspect of our story comes in.

The dynasty will start in 1901 during the "war" between the American and National League for player services. By 1903 things will "settle down" a bit but by then a new "independent" minor league will begin play: The Pacific Coast League. Each major league team will have an AAA affiliate in either the American Association or Eastern League and an AA affiliate in either the Southern Association or Texas League. Historical players will be drafted to their real-life teams but will need to break the minors to make the big league squad which at least for the first several years is a tough roster to crack at 16 players each. The "reserve clause" will come into effect by 1903, locking in players, but minor league free agency is such that there is some player movement. The threat of the Federal League in 1914 may alter the career of our story's protagonists. Historical spitballers will be imported earlier than their professional debut so they can get some seasoning in the minors. I'll be acting solely as the omniscient commissioner, perhaps until Landis assumes the thrown in 1920.

By about 1910 I think I'll have hit my stride and will welcome the addition of your favorite fictional player to the amateur draft. Two Class-D feeder leagues will be formed and reader-submitted fictional players will begin their unpredictable careers with the hope that, by 1920, they will be among those selected as grandfathers to continue their dying craft with the spitball. Some critics have said the spitball ruined the arms of many a pitcher, while those that threw the pitch swore it added years to their career. Spitball pitcher Jack Quinn reached the age of nearly 50 in the majors before he threw his last pitch. Who knows how your career will end up?

But OOTP doesn't model the spitball! True, but I will be using Syd Thrift's Training Matrix as an aid to development. The specifics regarding fictional player creation will be noted when it's appropriate, but both historical and your fictional spitball pitchers will be subjected to the Matrix. "There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path" when subjected to the Matrix in learning your craft. Each player will begin their careers without the spitter, but at some point will try to learn the pitch to gain an extra edge. Benefits will be given to those on teams with an established star spitballer or an exceptional pitching coach. That training may come at a cost though, but you'll have a chance to direct the career path of your player. Remember, you'll need to have a good career to continue to use the spitter past 1920, else you'll be sent to the minors or worse. Anyone reading the dynasty will have a chance to elect our Slippery Elm Boys when 1920 rolls around. Hopefully this aspect of the dynasty will keep me writing and simming, and you reading

04-24-2008, 01:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
No Pepper All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 819	Universe Setup Just a few comments about how this dynasty shapes up: I was inspired by a number of dynasties on this board, particularly those that followed the careers of a certain player. I've always been interested in old-time baseball, especially the Deadball Era and the events following WWI and the arrival of The Babe. Since there's many different storylines to pursue during this time period, I thought to concentrate on a group of players that I knew little about: pitchers that threw the spitball. This dynasty was also inspired by the wonderful research of Steve Steinberg and the book Spitballers: The Last Legal Hurlers of the Wet One. Here and there I'll either be quoting or paraphrasing from those references so I'd like to give them their due credit here. I'm not a particular creative writer so they'll help guide the 'story' along at points. So, for starters, this dynasty will follow the careers of those that were known spitballers. They range from Hall-of-Famers to No-Namers, and more or less every team in the majors had them. This is sort of a spoiler, but what is particularly interesting is that in 1920, the spitball was banned but eventually every team could "grandfather" up to two established pitchers and allow them to throw the spitter until either age or performance forces them to retire. That's where the fictional aspect of our story comes in. The dynasty will start in 1901 during the "war" between the American and National League for player services. By 1903 things will "settle down" a bit but by then a new "independent" minor league will begin play: The Pacific Coast League. Each major league team will have an AAA affiliate in either the American Association or Eastern League and an AA affiliate in either the Southern Association or Texas League. Historical players will be drafted to their real-life teams but will need to break the minors to make the big league squad which at least for the first several years is a tough roster to crack at 16 players each. The "reserve clause" will come into effect by 1903, locking in players, but minor league free agency is such that there is some player movement. The threat of the Federal League in 1914 may alter the career of our story's protagonists. Historical spitballers will be imported earlier than their professional debut so they can get some seasoning in the minors. I'll be acting solely as the omniscient commissioner, perhaps until Landis assumes the thrown in 1920. By about 1910 I think I'll have hit my stride and will welcome the addition of your favorite fictional player to the amateur draft. Two Class-D feeder leagues will be formed and reader-submitted fictional players will begin their unpredictable careers with the hope that, by 1920, they will be among those selected as grandfathers to continue their dying craft with the spitball. Some critics have said the spitball ruined the arms of many a pitcher, while those that threw the pitch swore it added years to their career. Spitball pitcher Jack Quinn reached the age of nearly 50 in the majors before he threw his last pitch. Who knows how your career will end up? But OOTP doesn't model the spitball! True, but I will be using Syd Thrift's Training Matrix as an aid to development. The specifics regarding fictional player creation will be noted when it's appropriate, but both historical and your fictional spitball pitchers will be subjected to the Matrix. "There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path" when subjected to the Matrix in learning your craft. Each player will begin their careers without the spitter, but at some point will try to learn the pitch to gain an extra edge. Benefits will be given to those on teams with an established star spitballer or an exceptional pitching coach. That training may come at a cost though, but you'll have a chance to direct the career path of your player. Remember, you'll need to have a good career to continue to use the spitter past 1920, else you'll be sent to the minors or worse. Anyone reading the dynasty will have a chance to elect our Slippery Elm Boys when 1920 rolls around. Hopefully this aspect of the dynasty will keep me writing and simming, and you reading __________________ Current Dynasty: The Slippery Elm Boys Historical Uniforms: Major, Minor, Latin and Negro Leagues 19th century uniforms and templates. Logo Collection Last edited by No Pepper : 04-24-2008 at 01:40 PM.